Vehicle washing device

Abstract

A device for washing automobiles, vans, and other vehicles is shown which comprises a movable spray bar with high velocity spray nozzles mounted thereon, as well as associated supporting structure, and motion inducing means, In the washing process, the lateral profile of the vehicle is tracked by an array of photoelectric cell detectors mounted on the spray bar. Based on electronic output signals from the detectors, which are processed by a preprogrammed logic control unit and relayed to the motion inducing means, the spray bar is maintained at a predetermined height above, and the nozzles at a constant angle to, the vehicle surfaces being washed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle washing device comprising in combination: lateral vehicle profile detection means;   a horizontal spray bar adapted to distribute wash liquids;   spray bar vertical positioning means;   spray bar rotation means;   supporting structure for the preceding, and   a logic control unit,   wherein said profile detection means comprises at least two photoelectric cells, the components of which are mounted on, and at opposite ends of said spray bar, and which are adapted to detect the presence of an intervening, lateral vehicle surface, wherein when such presence is detected, electronic signals are sent from said cells to said logic control unit which is adapted to receive said input signals and to process them based on instructional logic contained in said unit, and based upon said processing, to generate and transmit output signals to said spray bar vertical positioning means which includes movable spray bar supporting structure adapted to be activated thereby, and raised or lowered according to said logic, and wherein said spray bar has a plurality of spray nozzles attached thereto and is connected to rotation means for rotating said spray bar in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said spray bar relative to said spray bar's movable supporting structure, said rotation means also being controlled by output signals received from said logic control unit, thereby positioning the direction of said spray bar, and therefore of the nozzles attached thereto, at a predetermined, substantially constant perpendicular angle relative to the exposed upper vehicle surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the sides of said vehicle, wherein further, said cells are said spaced apart laterally from the longitudinal axis of said spray bar, and from each other, and wherein still further, said supporting structure comprises two vertical stanchion members mounted on base members and being pivotable thereabout by pivot means governed by instruction logic contained in said logic control unit which is responsive to signals received by said unit from said photoelectric cells, said stanchion members being connected together at their upper ends by a support beam to form a horizontal top structure, said spray bar supporting structure extending from, and being pivotally attached to said top structure.   
     
     
       2. A vehicle washing device according to claim 1 wherein the instruction logic controlling the pivoting action of said stanchion members causes said stanchion members to pivot as a vehicle being washed initially moves away from said stanchion members, and from between said photoelectric cells, said pivoting action being controlled by said photoelectric cells so that they are again able maintain a position in which they are able to continue to detect the presence of said vehicle, and said action being terminated when said spray bar reaches a predetermined height. 
     
     
       3. A vehicle washing device according to claim 1 in which said profile detection device includes an array of photoelectric cells comprising two vertically spaced parallel rows of at least two cells each, said cells being spaced apart laterally from the longitudinal axis of said spray bar, and from each other, and wherein the distance between the cells at each end of one row is greater than the distance between the cells at each end of the other row. 
     
     
       4. A vehicle washing device according to claim 1 in which said profile detection device includes an array of photoelectric cells comprising one row of at least two cells. 
     
     
       5. A vehicle washing device according to claim 1 in which said movable spray bar supporting structure and said rotation means are activated by pressure cylinders. 
     
     
       6. A vehicle washing device according to claim 1 in which said supporting structure comprises an inverted, substantially U-shaped wash frame wide enough to accommodate passage of the vehicle therethrough, with two space support arms pivotally attached to a top, horizontal member thereof, and extending therefrom, said spray bar being pivotally, horizontally attached between cantilevered ends of said support arms, and said support arms being pivotable up and down in an arc about pivot points of attachment. 
     
     
       7. A vehicle washing device according to claim 1 in which there is included means to produce relative movement between said device and the vehicle to be washed.